Top 15 Most Popular Guard Dog Breeds in Vietnam

This is the most popular guard dog breed in Vietnam. Purebred Chihuahuas are known for their 'spoiled' temperament and picky eating habits. To make them more suitable for the economic conditions of many dog lovers in Vietnam, Chihuahuas have been crossbred with other breeds to produce mixed-breed Chihuahuas that are more affordable and easier to raise than purebred ones.

Characteristics:

• Chihuahuas are small dogs, weighing around 1.5 - 3 kg, standing 16 - 20 cm tall, and approximately 30 cm long. They have small heads, erect ears, and round, large eyes. The breed comes in various coat colors, and the length of the coat varies as well.
• Despite their small size, these dogs hold many surprises. They are intelligent, enjoy being pampered, and are extremely loyal to their owners. However, they also exhibit courage and quick sensitivity. Although they are guard dogs, they excel at home guarding and are vigilant towards strangers. So, be careful when encountering them, as they bark fiercely!

Reference Prices in Vietnam:

• Purebred Chihuahua: around 2,000,000 - 5,000,000 VND
• Mixed-breed Chihuahua: around 1,000,000 - 2,000,000 VND

Originally a hunting breed with a quite amusing appearance (elongated like a sausage), nowadays, they are raised as pets, resulting in some changes from their ancestors. However, the temperament of these guard dogs now depends on the owner's training.

Characteristics:

• They are a visually appealing breed with a long and round body, short legs, long and drooping ears. Despite their appearance, as a hunting breed, they are agile, courageous, and a bit stubborn. Weighing from 7 - 15 kg (smaller types are under 5 kg).
• There are 3 types: smooth coat, short coat, and long coat (long coat is uncommon in Vietnam). The coat color is mostly yellow or reddish-brown (long-coat variety often has dark black, brown, or gray spots mixed with bright hazel colors).

Reference Prices:

• Dachshund bred in Vietnam (common type, less paperwork): Around 2,500,000 - 4,000,000 VND
• Dachshund imported from Thailand (with proper paperwork): Around 5,000,000 - 8,000,000 VND
• Dachshund imported from European, American, or Russian countries: Prices above 10,000,000 VND

Purebred Beijing dogs and Beijing-Japanese mix dogs are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam due to their suitability for many people. These two types are quite similar and difficult to distinguish.

Characteristics:

Both purebred and Japanese mix breeds are easy to raise. However, due to their long coat, regular bathing and grooming are necessary. They weigh from 1 - 6 kg, with a height of 13 - 23 cm.

• Beijing dogs mostly have a solid coat color, with a shorter muzzle than the Japanese mix type, a slightly upturned nose, and a distinct break between the nose and forehead.
• Beijing-Japanese mix dogs often have a two-tone coat, a longer muzzle, a straight nose, and a less distinct break than the purebred type.

Reference Prices:

• Purebred Beijing: around 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 VND
• Beijing-Japanese Mix: 1,000,000 - 2,000,000 VND

Poodle is a breed with a gentle and adorable appearance. They are highly pampered, affectionate, and live comfortably. Toy poodle is a popular breed for raising in Vietnam.

Characteristics:

It is a small-sized ornamental dog with a round head, long drooping ears, slightly curly and silky hair, and a straight or cropped tail. The coat color is quite diverse: black, white, gray, yellow, brown, coffee, etc. There are three common sizes: Toy (super small), Miniature (small), and Standard (large). Types 1 and 2 are popular in Vietnam, while type 3 is more common worldwide due to its larger size.

• Toy poodle has a maximum height of about 25 cm when standing, weighing from 2 - 5 kg. This type is the most favored in Vietnam due to its small size suitable as a pet.
• Miniature Poodle has a maximum height of about 40 cm and weighs 7 - 8 kg, up to 9 kg. Some people prefer a medium size.
• Standard Poodle is the largest with a height of about 40 - 50 cm and weighs 20 - 30 kg.

In addition, there is a type of dog with a height under 22 cm and weighs under 3 kg (tiny, teacup). This is considered a tiny breed that is difficult to distinguish between the two types. Some people in Vietnam also raise this type, and they are quite expensive. Poodles are cheerful, intelligent, and easy to train. Regular grooming helps keep them tidy.

Reference Prices: 6,000,000 - 10,000,000 VND

Phu Quoc Dog is currently favored as a pure Vietnamese breed, known for its intelligence and cleverness, although there is no specific standard for the purebred Phu Quoc Dog yet.

Features:

• Some are most easily recognizable with swirls on the back, or a few have swirls on both sides of the neck,... This species is extremely smart, sharp, and loyal. They are easy to train and if trained, they are truly very useful.
• Purebred Phu Quoc Dogs have a slender, sturdy body, weighing from 12 - 18 kg, a straight back, a small and long dog's nose, small and hocky legs, a tail curved over the back (like a fishing hook). Phu Quoc Dog's fur is short, with various colors. The most common are yellow, brown, red, black, rarer are brindle (rarely favored), chocolate brown, and the rarest is gray. However, it is still difficult to determine which one is the purebred type based solely on these characteristics.

Reference price: 3,000,000 - 6,000,000 VND

We know Alaska as a long-standing sled dog breed. They are strong, intelligent, friendly, and obedient. In Vietnam, Alaska is very popular.

Features:

• Alaska has a fairly large body (resembling a wolf) so it may look a bit fierce, but in reality, it is a gentle and friendly breed. They have a body height of about 55 - 70 cm, weighing 35 - 50 kg, with a sturdy and healthy bone structure. Their eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped.
• This breed is very diverse in coat colors, typically gray and white, gray fox fur combined with white, black and white, brown (red) and white, or can be all white. However, regardless of the fur color, all of them have the characteristic of a white muzzle and 4 legs.
• They are energetic and love to run and jump. With long and thick fur, they also shed quite a bit.

Reference price: 8,000,000 - 15,000,000 VND (Alaska dogs imported from other countries are much more expensive)

Known for their quirky appearance, often called Pug with a wrinkled face, they are incredibly gentle. They are the true indoor companion pets. Many young people choose this breed because of their extreme cuteness.

Features:

• A small, playful, and sociable breed. They have a wide and square body, about 30 - 35 cm tall, usually weighing less than 10kg. They have short fur with a few characteristic colors: black-faced fawn, solid black, light brown, or dark yellow with a black mask around the eyes, nose, and mouth. They have a large, round head, big eyes, and a distinctive wrinkled face.
• Belonging to the aristocratic breed, they seem to enjoy eating, playing, and sleeping. They love to be petted, are quite lazy, and tend to overeat, so you need to take them for walks regularly.

Reference price:

• Regularly bred Pug dogs in the country: 6,000,000 - 8,000,000 VND
• Beautiful Pug dogs, guaranteed breed, with papers: 10,000,000 - 15,000,000 VND
• Imported Pug dogs: 10,000,000 - 25,000,000 VND

Samoyed is a breed with elegant beauty, featuring a soft, captivating white coat. Just one look is enough to be mesmerized by them.

Features:

• They have a thick, plush coat, strikingly white (now there are also other coat colors, but mostly white). Samoyeds have a strong, flexible body, about 45 - 60 cm tall, weighing 16 - 30 kg. Triangular-shaped ears, slightly rounded at the top, always erect, with a curved and rolled tail on the back. Their eyes are almond-shaped and dark.
• Samoyeds are agile, intelligent, very loyal to their owner, and always appear friendly to people. Due to their long, white fur, regular grooming is necessary to prevent dirt accumulation.

Reference price: 6,000,000 - 9,000,000 VND (imported breeds are higher)

Husky is a beautiful dog, resembling the wolf or Alaska. Just like that, Husky is also a widely raised dog for its beauty and friendliness towards humans.

Features:

Compared to Alaska, Husky has a sturdy and flexible frame, albeit slightly smaller. They stand about 50-60 cm tall, weighing around 16-27 kg. Husky has many prominent features:

• Eyes: almond-shaped eyes, slightly slanted, giving a wild appearance, seemingly exuding a cold demeanor. They come in various eye colors such as brown, blue, amber, or combinations of these, green, and more.
• Coat: long, thick, and also diverse like Alaska. Different color patterns on the head are considered common. Color combinations include black and white, red and white (reddish-brown, ...), gray and white, fox color - white, tuxedo white.
• Personality-wise, Husky is energetic, gentle, friendly, and obedient to its owner, much like Alaska despite its slightly fierce appearance.

Price reference: 6,000,000 - 10,000,000 VND (dogs imported from other countries with documents are much more expensive)

Pitbull is a dog breed that many people love nowadays. Formerly known as a fierce breed, it has become the most loyal pet after being selectively bred.

Features:

• The name Pitbull does not refer to a specific breed but rather a group of breeds with similar characteristics and (possibly) descended from the same common ancestor.
• Pitbulls are typically 45-55 cm tall, weighing 20-40 kg. They have a large, robust body, strong jaw muscles, and an imposing appearance.
• Present-day Pitbulls are quite gentle, lively, and friendly. However, given their history as 'warriors' participating in fights and hunting, owners should train them even if they have been domesticated. They are loyal, obedient, agile, and incredibly strong and courageous.

Price reference: 6,000,000 - 9,000,000 VND (imported breeds can cost tens to hundreds of millions)

Pomeranian (Pom), also known as the Pomeranian dog, is a world-famous ornamental dog breed. This breed is attractive for its small size and cuteness, especially with its large eyes.

Features:

• It is a small dog, with standard size (about 25 - 30 cm), mini size (about 20 cm), teacup size (under 15 cm). The weight of mini and standard types is about 1 - 3 kg.
• Pomeranians have long fur, commonly white, but they also come in other colors: yellow, cream, brown,...
• The face of Pomeranian dogs is somewhat like a fox, with two puffed cheeks, large dark eyes, a small and long nose (there is also a round-faced Pomeranian, similar to a teddy bear, which is more popular and more expensive than the traditional Pomeranian by a few million).
• They are quite playful, clever, intelligent, easy to care for, and affectionate. However, taking care of them can be a bit challenging as they tend to shed and can be picky eaters.

Price reference: 6,000,000 - 8,000,000 VND (9,000,000 - 12,000,000 VND for purebred dogs born in Vietnam with papers, and imported breeds with papers are much higher)

If you have a small child in your family, the Golden dog will be an excellent choice for you as they are adorable and have the affectionate qualities towards children. The intelligent, quick-witted, calm, gentle, loyal, and extremely affectionate nature makes the Golden the most reliable companion in the world of dogs.

• The Golden has a beautiful and balanced appearance. Their coat is usually gentle shades of yellow (from cream to golden brown), consisting of a water-resistant outer layer and a fine, short undercoat.
• The Golden has a large head, a slightly tapered muzzle, a wide and sharp jaw. The nose is black, the brown eyes have a dark rim, full of emotion. Soft, long, curled ears always hang down. The neck is long, strong, and quite muscular. They also have a wide chest and a long tail that never sags.
• When fully grown, a Golden stands from 50 – 60 cm tall measured at the shoulder and weighs around 25 – 35 kg.
• This breed is both gentle, friendly, cute, easy to train, adorable as a puppy, and retains its cuteness as an adult. Golden is quite active and needs a playful space; if kept confined, they tend to become hyperactive.

Price range:

• Purebred Golden Retriever: Around 7,000,000 – 10,000,000 VND
• Golden Dog with full VKA papers: Around 10,000,000 – 18,000,000 VND

Shiba is definitely a name that cannot be left out of this list because they look extremely cute and adorable, with a humorous face that always seems to be smiling.

Features:

• Shiba dogs have a flat face and a relatively small nose, small triangular ears standing upright on the head. They have a short and thick tail, and their fur is usually curled over their back.
• The Shiba's frame is compact with well-developed muscles. Males have a height ranging from 35 to 43 cm, while females are 33 to 41 cm. The average weight is about 10 kg for males and around 8 kg for females.
• Shiba Dogs have two layers of fur: a stiff and straight outer layer, and a soft and thick inner layer. They have short fur on their face, ears, and legs, resembling fox fur. Shiba dogs can have red, black and tan, or sesame (red with black-tipped hairs), with a cream, chestnut, or gray undercoat. They can also have a white (cream) coat.

Price range:

• Shiba Dogs (locally bred, with full papers): 20 to 30 million VND
• Imported Shiba Inu Dogs: 40,000,000 to 45,000,000 VND

With modern technology and advanced breeding techniques, Corgi breeding has been improved and widely spread in the market, giving birth to purebred and beautiful Corgi dogs.

Features:

• Corgis have upright, evenly triangular ears, a small, sharp, and long nose. Their eyes are large and very round, with a black nose, small but strong mouth and jaw. Purebred Pembroke Corgis must have a round, long, and very straight body, a large hindquarters, a docked tail, or almost none (beautiful Pembroke Corgis should have a tail shorter than 5cm).
• The most prominent feature of this breed is very short legs; the shorter the legs, the longer the body, the more beautiful.
• Corgi's legs are very short, with thick fur and two layers. The outer layer is long, thick, slightly stiff, and waterproof. The inner fur of this ornamental dog is shorter, thinner, but soft, smooth, and warm.
• Corgis come in various colors, but the most common are orange-white and yellow-white. Less common colors include black-white, brown-white, or brown-red-black-white and yellow (orange)-black-white.
• Corgis are very intelligent and affectionate, tend to follow their owner, so they are obedient and easy to train.

Price range: 13,000,000 - 20,000,000 VND (depends on color for puppies)

Mixed Breed Belgian Shepherd Dogs tend to be healthier and have fewer hereditary diseases than purebred dogs, making them popular as pets in Vietnam. Common mixed breeds include Husky, Rottweiler, native breeds, Phu Quoc, wolf hybrids, Doberman, and more.

Features:

• Mixed breed dogs usually have upright ears from birth, unlike purebreds that develop them after 6 months.

• They are intelligent and often undergo training for military purposes. Purebred Belgian Shepherds can be fierce and wary of strangers, but mixed breeds tend to have a more docile temperament, reducing aggressive tendencies.
• Both their physical traits and personalities are unpredictable, making it challenging to predict and train them.

Price Range:

• Mixed Breed Belgian Shepherd Puppies (over 2 months old in Vietnam): 500,000 - 6,000,000 VND (depending on the mixed breed)
• Mixed Breed Belgian Shepherds with pedigree documents: 6,000,000 - 10,000,000 VND
• Adult Belgian Shepherds (imported from Germany): 14,000,000 – 45,000,000 VND